Conservation must work for people as well as ecosystems. Our alternative livelihoods work supports coastal communities to maintain food security and income while reducing pressure on vulnerable marine ecosystems. By creating practical, locally led pathways like our Sustainable Fishing Project, we aim to shift behaviour at the root cause level, enabling sustainable resource use that benefits both reefs and the people who depend on them.
Our Sustainable Fishing Project
The Sustainable Fishing Project is Love The Oceans’ most ambitious and complex initiative, and the one with the greatest potential for long-term impact. At its core, the project supports local fishermen to transition away from destructive, nearshore fishing practices and towards safer, more sustainable methods that protect reef ecosystems while safeguarding food security and livelihoods. Working directly with fishing communities in Jangamo, the project provides access to kayak-based rod and line fishing on a structured check-in, check-out system. In order to participate, fishermen must give up unsustainable practices such as gill-netting or reef-based spearfishing and attend sustainability and safety training delivered by Love The Oceans’ community team.
All fishing activity is monitored, including catch composition, effort and location, ensuring the project is evidence-led and accountable. This approach is underpinned by over a decade of fisheries and reef research conducted by Love The Oceans, which has revealed alarming declines in large herbivorous reef fish, a group critical to coral reef health. By enabling fishermen to access deeper waters and target pelagic species instead, the project reduces pressure on vulnerable reef systems, supports coral recovery and helps rebalance local ecosystems.
In 2026 Love The Oceans is facilitating the revival of the Community Fisheries Council (CCP) which is the legally empowered entity which can write bylaws and enforce them. The CCP in Jangamo dissolved over a decade ago, so Love The Oceans is working to help the fishing community democratically re-elect the CCP board, ultimately giving our fishing communities decision-making power that is legally recognised.
The Sustainable Fishing Project is a locally led, science-driven pathway towards healthier reefs, safer fishing and more resilient coastal communities. It is also a critical building block for future marine protected area management in Jangamo Bay. We are actively seeking funding and partners to scale this work and unlock its full potential for people and planet.
